Junior Tori Faieta led the Skyhawks with 18 points and nine rebounds. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Faieta leads Skyhawks to second-straight win with 18 points 

EASTON, Mass. (January 28, 2014) – Stonehill College rounded out the month of January with its fifth win over the last five after a 65-61 decision over Le Moyne College in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.

Junior Tori Faieta (Lynn, Mass./Saint Mary's) finished just a rebound shy of her second straight double-double as she led Stonehill with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 1-for-2 from three-point range and at the free-throw line, a game-high nine rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and a steal. Classmate Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) added 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, with five assists and three rebounds. Senior Mary Louise Dixon (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Skyhawks with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists, while sophomore Paige Marshall (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) chipped in nine points, seven boards (four offensive), two assists and two blocks.

Junior Alex Marple (Covington, Pa./Wellsboro) led Le Moyne with 18 points, aided by 6-of-7 shooting at the free-throw line, with five rebounds. Postgrad Kayla Strohman (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) added 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, while junior Emily Greer (Corry, Pa./Corry) finished with 13 points, five boards, two assists and three steals.

Stonehill finished shooting 43.1-percent (25-for-58) from the field, including 44.4% (12-27) in the second half, connecting on just 6-of-22 (27.3%) of its shots from three-point range while shooting 9-for-12 (75%) at the line. The Skyhawks posted a 37-32 rebounding edge and was 2-for-9 (22.2%) from beyond the arc in the second half. Le Moyne was limited to 38.9% (21-for-54) shooting, including 33.3% (10-33) in the second half, converting 7-of-17 (41.2%) three's and 12-of-16 (75%) free-throw attempts.

Junior Amy Pelletier added 15 points, five assists and three rebounds. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds)

Stonehill scored the final four points in the closing 1:21 of the first half, capped by a Dixon three-pointer, to carry a five point (33-28) lead into halftime after leading by as much as eight. Faieta opened the second half with a layup to push the Stonehill lead to seven (35-28) before Le Moyne scored six straight, sparked by a three-point play by Marple, to close back within a point (37-36) after a triple by senior Maddie McKnight (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) three and a half minutes into the frame.

The teams traded baskets before Stonehill reeled off a 9-1 spurt to claim a nine point lead (49-39) after a Pelletier three with 11:39 remaining. Junior Tessa Pucello (Syracuse, N.Y./Solvay) answered with a three for Le Moyne to start a 7-1 Dolphins run to draw within four (50-46) after a Strohman three with 6:46 to play. Stonehill looked to finally pull away, scoring seven straight to push the lead into double-figures (57-46) for the first time after a Dixon layup with 3:51 left.

Greer drilled a three at the other end and Le Moyne closed the gap to six (58-52) with two Marple free-throws with 2:36 still to play. Stonehill regained an eight point cushion (62-54) with a pair of free-throws by Marshall with 1:38 remaining, but the Dolphins cut the lead to three (62-59) on a three-point play by Strohman. Le Moyne took advantage of a Stonehill turnover to trim the lead to a point (62-61) with 45-seconds left, but couldn't get over the hump. Dixon was fouled and drained both free-throws and then after a missed three for Le Moyne, Faieta sealed it with one of two at the line with nine seconds to go.

After a back and forth opening five and a half minutes, Stonehill opened its second five point lead of the first half (19-14) with a Marshall layup with 10:49 remaining. Le Moyne scored the next seven to reclaim the lead (21-19) after a Marple layup with 8:37 to play. Stonehill answered with ten straight to open its largest lead of the half (29-21) after a Dixon jumper 4:41 before halftime on its way to the five point halftime advantage.

Stonehill (12-5, 9-4 NE-10) now hits the road, where it will play four of its next five games, starting Saturday at The College of Saint Rose at 1:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym on Saturday, February 8, to host Saint Michael's College for their Play 4 Kay Game for Breast Cancer Awareness at 1:30 p.m. Le Moyne (10-9, 6-7 NE-10) hosts Franklin Pierce University on Saturday at noon.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter and Facebook. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks mobile app on iTunes and the Android Market.